title: Possible correlation between the zinc and copper concentrations involved in the pathogenesis of various forms of anemia.
abstract: The concentrations of three trace elements (iron, copper and zinc) involved in hematopoiesis were studied in 200 patients with iron-deficit anemia, hemolytic anemia and Biermer's anemia, in comparison with a group of normal subjects. The method used was atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The results obtained showed that in iron-deficit anemia resistant to iron therapy the copper and ceruloplasmin serum concentrations are at the lowest limit of normal. This copper deficit has a negative effect on the disease by preventing hemoglobin synthesis. In iron-deficit anemias responding to iron therapy the relatively low (about 90 gamma %) zinc values have a negative effect by blocking the iron in the iron reserve. In hemolytic anemia the very high zinc serum concentrations (over 200 gamma %) may lead to a shortening of the erythrocytes life span due to its "entatic state". In Biermer's anemia zinc by its high concentration has a positive role owing to carbonic anhydrase which eliminates more rapidly carbon dioxide from the organism.
authors.affiliation: N. Gh. Lupu Institute of Internal Medicine, Bucharest, Romania.
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Chirulescu
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Suciu
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tănăsescu
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pîrvulescu
mesh_terms: D000740:Anemia / Q000097:blood* / Q000209:etiology; D000743:Anemia, Hemolytic / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology; D000747:Anemia, Hypochromic / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology; D000752:Anemia, Pernicious / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology; D003300:Copper / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D007501:Iron / Q000097:blood; D015032:Zinc / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D003300:Copper; D007501:Iron; D015032:Zinc